Chelmer, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chelmer Brisbane, Queensland
Camphor laurel trees along Laurel Avenue
Chelmer Location in Queensland
Population	3,325 (2021 census)
• Density	1,850/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4068
Elevation	20 m (66 ft)
Area	1.8 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.8 km (6 mi) SW of Brisbane CBD
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane (Tennyson Ward)
State electorate(s)	Miller
Federal Division(s)	Moreton
Suburbs around Chelmer: Indooroopilly Indooroopilly Indooroopilly Indooroopilly Chelmer Indooroopilly Fig Tree Pocket Graceville Graceville

Chelmer is a suburb located in the south-west part of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's part of the City of Brisbane area. In 2021, about 3,325 people lived there.

Exploring Chelmer's Location

Chelmer is about 9.8 kilometers (6 miles) from the center of Brisbane by road. It's mostly a residential area with houses spread out, not tall apartment buildings. Many homes are classic 'Queenslanders' with wooden verandas and wide stairs. Newer brick homes have also been built.

Chelmer sits on a bend of the Brisbane River. The river forms its border on almost all sides except the south.

Bridges Connecting Chelmer

There are four bridges that cross the Brisbane River from Chelmer to Indooroopilly in the north. These bridges help people and trains get across the river.

• Walter Taylor Bridge: This is a road bridge.
• Indooroopilly Railway Bridge: This bridge is for trains.
• Albert Bridge: This is another bridge for trains.
• Jack Pesch Bridge: This bridge is just for people walking or riding bikes.

Getting Around Chelmer

The Chelmer railway station is a train station on the main railway line. It helps people travel to and from Chelmer.

There are also two footbridges over the railway line within Chelmer:

• One connects Honour Avenue to Halsbury Street, near the train station.
• Another connects Honour Avenue near Richmond Street to Appel Street, south of the station.

Chelmer's Past: A Brief History

The suburb of Chelmer got its name from the Chelmer railway station in 1881. It was likely named after the River Chelmer in England. Before that, the station was called Oxley Point and then Riverton.

The first train station opened in 1876 as Oxley's Point. It was renamed Riverton in 1888. The current Chelmer station opened in 1889, and the Riverton station closed.

How Chelmer Became Part of Brisbane

In 1879, the local government area of Yeerongpilly Division was created. Later, in 1891, parts of this area became Sherwood Division, which included Chelmer. In 1925, the Sherwood area joined with other areas to form the City of Brisbane.

New estate map at Riverton (Chelmer)

Early Land Sales

Over the years, different parts of Chelmer were sold off as land for homes.

• In 1884, many plots of land in the "Township of Riverton" were sold.
• In 1901, "Chelmer Estate" was auctioned near the river and train station.
• In 1914, "Chelmer Railway Station Estate" was sold right next to the station.
• In 1922 and 1923, "Chelmer Park" estates were sold, offering river views.

Community Buildings and Bridges

The Chelmer School of Arts opened in 1923. It was a place for community activities and is now known as the Chelmer Community Centre.

The Walter Taylor Bridge was built by Walter Taylor and opened in 1936. It replaced a ferry service that used to cross the river. After Walter Taylor passed away, the bridge was named after him. It was a toll bridge until 1965, meaning people had to pay to cross it.

St David's Anglican Church had its foundation stone laid in 1939. It was officially opened that same year. Today, it works with other churches to offer services both in person and online.

Schools in Chelmer's Past

Chelmer Special School opened in 1978 but closed in 1992. Milpera Special School opened in 1984 and was renamed Milpera State High School in 1998.

Chelmer's Famous Street

In 1999, Laurel Avenue was voted Brisbane's Best Street. It's known for its beautiful camphor laurel trees and grand old homes. Some of these trees and houses are now protected as heritage sites.

The 2011 Floods

Chelmer was badly affected by the 2011 Queensland floods. Many homes in the area were covered by the rising river waters.

Chelmer's People: Demographics

The population of Chelmer has grown over the years.

• In 2011, there were 2,594 people living in Chelmer.
• In 2016, the population increased to 2,998 people.
• By 2021, Chelmer had 3,325 residents.

Most people in Chelmer were born in Australia. The next largest groups came from England and New Zealand. English is the main language spoken at home.

Preserving Chelmer's Heritage

Swain House on Laurel Avenue was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003

Chelmer has several places that are listed as heritage sites. This means they are important historical places that are protected.

Some of these heritage-listed sites include:

• St David's Anglican Church
• Leswell (a house)
• The Walter Taylor Bridge
• The former Brisbane Golf Club Clubhouse
• Dalmuir (a house)
• The camphor laurel trees along Laurel Avenue
• Hurlton (a house, also known as W. R. Black Children's Home)
• The former Chelmer Police College
• Floraville (a house)
• Swain House
• Glenmore (a house)
• Another house at 201 Laurel Avenue
• Carinyah (a house)
• Pontresina (a house, now part of Warrina Village)
• The former Chelmer School of Arts (now Chelmer Community Centre)
• Wahgunyah (a house)
• The Albert Bridge
• Mullen farmhouse

Learning in Chelmer: Education

Milpera State High School is a government high school in Chelmer. It's special because it teaches English to students who have recently arrived in Australia and speak other languages. Students join and leave the school based on how well they learn English.

There are no primary schools directly in Chelmer. The closest primary school is Graceville State School in the nearby suburb of Graceville. For regular high school, students usually go to Indooroopilly State High School in Indooroopilly.

Community and Faith in Chelmer

The Chelmer Community Centre is a place where people can gather for events and activities.

St David's Anglican Church holds regular church services. Riverside Christian Church is another church located in Chelmer.

Sports and Recreation

Chelmer is home to two Australian rules football clubs:

• The Sherwood Districts Australian Football Club
• The Kenmore Australian Football Club

These clubs play in different leagues, offering opportunities for local sports.

Chelmer's Natural Beauty

Laurel Avenue is a very special street in Chelmer. It was named Brisbane's Best Street in 1999 because of its large, old camphor laurel trees. These trees create a beautiful canopy over the avenue. Even though they are lovely, the Brisbane City Council considers camphor laurels a weed because their roots can damage underground pipes.

Getting Around: Transport

Chelmer is divided into two parts by the Queensland Rail City network's railway line. The Chelmer railway station is a key part of this line.

The Albert Bridge and the Indooroopilly Railway Bridge connect the railway line from Chelmer to Indooroopilly. There's also a special bridge for people walking and cycling that runs alongside the road and rail bridges, linking Chelmer to Indooroopilly.

Images for kids

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  Camphor laurel trees along Laurel Avenue

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  New estate map at Riverton (Chelmer)

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  Swain House on Laurel Avenue